Early Wednesday, Typhoon Ragasa shut down Hong Kong as it tore through southern China after wreaking havoc in the Philippines and Taiwan. The powerful storm has displacedmore than 17,500 people and caused dozens of deaths.
Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest in years, whipped waves taller than lampposts ontoHong Kongpromenades and halted life on the southern Chinese coast early Wednesday after leaving destruction inTaiwanand thePhilippines.
Taiwan reported 14 deaths and the Philippines three after the typhoon took a path between them.
The fierce winds woke Hong Kong residents in the early hours, and many went online to describe scenes such as a kitchen ventilation fan being blown down and a crane swaying. Strong winds tore away parts of a pedestrian bridges roof and knocked down trees across the city. About 13 injured people were treated at hospitals.
Read moreHundreds trapped as typhoon triggers barrier lake burst in Taiwan
More than a million people were relocated across Guangdong province, the southern Chinese economic powerhouse, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The national weather agency forecast that the super typhoon would make landfall between the cities of Taishan and Zhanjiang between Wednesday afternoon and evening. Schools, factories and transit services were suspended in about a dozen cities.
Hong Kong and Macao, a nearby casino hub, cancelled schools and flights, with many shops closed. Hundreds of people sought refuge in temporary centres in each city, and one person was injured in Macao.
Hong Kongs observatory said Ragasa, with maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 195 kph (120 mph), was skirting around 100 kilometres (62 miles) to the south of the financial hub. It was forecast to continue moving west or west-northwest at about 22 kph (14 mph).
Read moreSchools shut, flights axed as Typhoon Ragasa nears Hong Kong, south China
Ragasa had earlier caused deaths and damagein Taiwan and the Philippines. In Taiwan, heavy rain caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow Tuesday, and torrents of muddy water destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into churning rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away. Taiwans Central News Agency reported that 14 people died and 18 others were injured.
In the northern Philippines, RagasaTagalog for scrambleleft at least three people dead, five others missing and displaced more than 17,500 people inflooding and landslides, officials said Tuesday.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Originally published on France24
